NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: CH 015: They’re scared of you
As Dave slowly opened his eyes, groggily emerging from his brief slumber, he was immediately greeted by a series of unwelcome droplets of water that fell onto his face.
Instinctively, he raised his hands to shield them, attempting to block out the annoying water droplets. To his dismay, he discovered that even the bed he had been sleeping in was thoroughly soaked, the mattress feeling heavy with absorbed water.
Initially, Dave's foggy mind led him to assume that it must be raining outside, and that perhaps one of the roofs of the room was leaking, allowing rainwater to seep in.
However, as his eyes gradually grew clearer, and his surroundings came into sharper focus, he made a startling discovery: it wasn't rainwater that was drenching him, but rather, someone was intentionally pouring water on him.
And, to his surprise, the mischievous culprit behind this prank was none other than Tasha, her identity revealed as Dave's gaze locked onto her smiling face.
"What the heck?!" Dave thundered, his voice laced with indignation, as he sprang out of bed, his eyes scanning the room in bewilderment.
He was met with the sight of Tasha and two other young ladies, neither of whom he had ever laid eyes on before, forming a semi-circle around him.
Their presence only added to Dave's confusion and annoyance. "What was that for?" he demanded, his tone a mixture of irritation and perplexity, as he struggled to make sense of the unexpected soaking.
Tasha, seemingly the one that initiated pouring water on Dave's face, decided to break her silence, a wide, mischievous smirk spreading across her face. "How could you be sleeping at this hour?" she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.
"Do you think being an executive member is something you can take lightly?" she continued, her words laced with a subtle reprimand, as she raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying Dave's discomfort.
"You didn't seek my permission before heading to bed," Tasha pointed out, her tone laced with a hint of disapproval. "Do you think I wouldn't find out?" she added, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if daring Dave to challenge her assertion.
Dave's confusion deepened, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of indignation. "Excuse me," he replied, his voice tinged with incredulity, "but why do I need to seek your permission before I can sleep?" The question hung in the air, as Dave struggled to comprehend the underlying dynamics at play.
As he pondered the situation, Dave couldn't help but wonder if being an executive member came with a set of stringent rules and regulations that governed every aspect of his life. Was being an executive a position that required him to sacrifice his personal autonomy and freedom?
The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and Dave couldn't help but consider the possibility of quitting his position or even leaving the casino base altogether. The idea of being constantly monitored and controlled was unsettling, to say the least, and Dave felt an overwhelming desire to reclaim his independence.
"As a senior member and your boss, it is imperative that you obtain my permission before attempting to rest, regardless of how exhausted you may feel," Tasha declared, her tone firm and authoritative, as she emphasized the expectation.
However, instead of acknowledging her statement with a dutiful affirmation, Dave responded with a query of his own, his curiosity piqued.
"How are you my boss?" he asked, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion, as he sought clarification on the matter.
Tasha's assertion had caught him off guard, and he felt compelled to challenge her claim. "I was under the impression that Anthony is the leader of this base," Dave continued, his tone measured and deliberate. "Which means he is the only one qualified to be my boss, not you."
"You're simply a senior member, and as such, you don't have the authority to dictate what I can and cannot do," Dave concluded, his words laced with a hint of assertiveness, as he unapologetically stated the facts as he understood them.
"Ah!" Tasha exclaimed, letting out a single, melodious laugh. Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and for a moment, she seemed taken aback by Dave's unvarnished bluntness. However, she quickly maintained her composure, her expression transforming into one of calm, calculated authority.
"Let me enlighten you, Dave," Tasha began, her voice smooth and measured. "Anthony has entrusted me with the responsibility of overseeing your performance during our current expedition. My evaluations will play a significant role in determining your future as a member of the executive team." Tasha's gaze locked onto Dave's, her eyes glinting with a hint of challenge.
"In light of this, I would advise you to cooperate fully with my instructions," Tasha continued, her tone firm but polite. "If you wish to maintain your position among the executives, it would be prudent to follow my guidance. However, if you're unwilling to adapt to this new dynamic, you always have the option to quit."
"I'm sure you're aware that there are numerous other qualified individuals eagerly awaiting the opportunity to join the executive team – an opportunity that you seem to have stumbled into rather fortuitously." Tasha's words were laced with a subtle hint of condescension, her expression a mask of polite indifference.
Dave let out a dismissive snort, scoffing at Tasha's words as he listened to her doubt his qualifications. "So, you're implying that I wasn't worthy of being chosen as an executive by the leader himself?" he asked, his tone laced with incredulity.
Tasha responded swiftly, her voice firm. "Yes, I don't believe you were qualified."
Dave's eyes narrowed slightly as he shot back, "Which means you're essentially undermining the leader's decision, don't you think?"
Tasha's expression turned defensive, and she protested, "No, I'm not!"
However, Dave remained calm, a subtle smile spreading across his face as he countered, "Yes, you are."
The air was thick with tension as Tasha struggled to formulate a response. Finally, she managed to stammer out a challenge: "Prove to me that you're qualified, then." Dave's smile grew wider, and he seemed to savor the moment, clearly aware that he had gained the upper hand in their verbal sparring match.
With her proposal, Tasha had cleverly devised a plan to test Dave's mettle by pitting him against various opponents in a series of challenges. Any losses incurred by Dave would provide Tasha with the perfect opportunity to justify his elimination from the executive group, thereby solidifying her own position of power.
Dave, however, seemed unfazed by Tasha's subtle maneuvering. Instead, he chose to focus on the more immediate concern at hand. "Okay, but first, you need to clean up this mess," he said, his gaze sweeping across the soaked mattress, which was dripping water onto the floor, creating a sizable puddle.
Tasha's response was a sly, enigmatic grin, which seemed to suggest that she was pleased with herself for having successfully ruffled Dave's feathers. "I'll have that sorted out," she said, her voice dripping with confidence.
At that precise moment, Dave's gaze had drifted towards the doorway, where he noticed a small cluster of people peeking in, their faces a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Why aren't they coming in?" Dave wondered aloud, his voice barely above a whisper as he pondered the reason behind their hesitation. However, his murmured words didn't go unnoticed, as Tasha and the two accompanying ladies caught the remark.
One of the young women, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I heard they're scared of you," she revealed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she glanced at Dave.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift ever so slightly, as if the young woman's words had introduced a new dynamic into the conversation.
As Dave's gaze lingered on the young woman who had spoken, he suddenly became aware of her striking features, and his eyes widened in appreciation. Her name was Mia, and Dave couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance she shared with the other young lady standing beside her.
It was only now that he realized they were identical twins, a fact that had escaped his attention earlier due to his intense interaction with Tasha. While one twin was Mia, the other was Kia, and Dave found himself intrigued by their identical yet distinct personalities.
Dave's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, his tone laced with amusement, "Why are they scared of me?"
Mia's eyes darted briefly towards Tasha before she responded, her voice measured and cautious. "They heard the tale of how you defeated... I mean, of your fight," she quickly corrected herself, carefully avoiding any mention of Ajax, Tasha's nephew, in order to avoid antagonizing her.
Mia continued, her words spilling out in a gentle cascade, "So, they're scared that they might inadvertently provoke you and end up in a difficult situation, given that you're clearly stronger than them. That's why they vacated the room for you to use, as a sign of fear and caution."
"That's silly, I wasn't going to hurt them," Dave said, his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and gentle reassurance, as he began to make his way towards the group of onlookers.
However, his approach was met with an instantaneous reaction, as the entire group hastily retreated, disappearing into a different section of the hall. Dave stood there, frozen in perplexity, his eyes scanning the now-empty space where the group had once been.
For a moment, he was taken aback by the intensity of their fear. As someone who had grown accustomed to being rejected and alone, Dave had developed a certain level of resilience.
However, witnessing the group's hasty departure had somehow touched a nerve, evoking a peculiar sense of discomfort within him. He couldn't help but wonder if being too strong was indeed something that inspired fear in others.
Had he inadvertently sent the wrong message by defeating Ajax in their previous encounter? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving Dave to ponder the unintended consequences of his actions.
At that precise moment, Tasha had bridged the distance between them, her footsteps quiet on the floor as she drew closer to Dave. Her eyes locked onto his, her gaze piercing as she posed the question, "So, are you still willing to go ahead with the fight?" The air seemed to thicken, heavy with anticipation, as Dave deliberated on his response.
For a fleeting moment, he weighed the pros and cons, his mind racing with the potential outcomes. Perhaps, he thought, it wasn't such a bad idea after all. Engaging in the fight would provide him with the opportunity to prove his worth, to demonstrate that he was indeed qualified to be an executive member.
Moreover, participating in the expedition would grant him access to invaluable knowledge and experience, allowing him to grow and learn. Additionally, he would have the chance to complete his quests, which would undoubtedly bring him closer to his goals.
And who knows, Dave thought, maybe after this experience, he would be able to make a more informed decision about whether to return to the casino base or forge his own path in the apocalypse.